An Ashtailor at Keppel Wetland

I was on the boardwalk at Keppel Wetland in the early evening on Tuesday. It was pretty quiet, no chirps from birds, no other people. When I got to the section where I had an interesting encounter with a crimson sunbird,  I slowed down, and looked around slowly hoping to see something interesting - I saw nothing. A little bit disappointed, I moved on. 

Just then, I paused and walked back a few steps, there, a tiny ashtailor bird was perching on a branch quietly in the trees by the pond, not doing anything particular. 

As I started taking pictures, it must have heard the shutter of my camera, it looked around and turned to my direction, looking inquisitively. Seeing nothing, it looked away. But the continuing shutter sound made it looking into my direction again. A few seconds later, it flew away, and returned shortly, but now perching on a different branch, a bit further away from where I stood. I did not take any more pictures, it must be the bird's roosting time, I left it alone.

I walked away pleased.

where is the noise coming from?

what's that?

Notes

1. I watched ashtailors many times before - mostly attracted by its bright chirps

Ashtailor at Sungei Buloh1

Two ashtailors chasing each other at Subgei Buloh

at Botanic Garden

2. This encounter made me more curious about the bird.  here is some detailed information about the tailor birds building their nests 

Lodging on TMB

To have a great experience on the trail of Tour Du Mont Blanc (TMB), lodging and meals are important. Fortunately for us, with the guided hiking, the agency arranged everything - quality/reputable lodges with fair price and at good locations. All of the lodges we stayed are close to the TMB trail, i.e. within ~ 2km hiking distance, one -  Refuge des Mottets - is actually right by the trail.

All lodges provide meal service and the meals (dinner and breakfast) were included in the fees we paid.

Day 1 - we stayed at Chalet Alpin du Tour in France, which is facing the mouth of a glacier at Grande Fourche, which forms the border between France and Switzerland. It has dormitory rooms with 2 bunker beds, one twin size bed per room, i.e.  5 person/room. It serves typical very basic 3 course Swiss food,  soup or salad, entree, and desert. Proteins were cheese and sausage.

One typical requirement in all lodges is that boots and hiking poles have to be left at the foyer at the entrance to keep the lodge clean

The glacier is right in front of the lodge - I had to walk away to take a full picture of it

donkeys are actually for carrying luggage for some groups

Day 2  - We stayed in a regular hotel La Grande Ourse, in a small town/village Trient of Switzerland. This is a typical beautiful village we see on a postcard  of Switzerland. Two unique features - a pink chapel, and the glacier of  Aiguille du Chardonnet. It has all the amenities of a hotel - a bar, a restaurant, except that toilets and bathrooms are shared

Day 3  - We stayed at a refuge -  Relais d'Arpette, in Switzerland. It is a rustics wooden structured hotel, with shared toilets and bathrooms. We were lucky - we had a room facing cusp of a valley, with its own toilet and bathroom. We saw the mountain peaks turn golden during sunrise from our bed!

The food here is served buffet like. 

Golden hue of sunrise

Day 4 - we stayed at Maya-Joie L'auberge  in Switzerland...the hotel has two buildings, we stayed in the second floor of the smaller building. It has nice views of  mountain peaks and glaciers around Mt Dolent, and a glacier river running in front of it. We had freezing therapy on our feet and knees. 

We were served Swiss historical food - Raclette for dinner and had a buffet style breakfast facing another golden hued glaciated mountains.

Unfortunately there were bed bugs in our hotel beds. 

soaking my leg into the freezing glacier river

Tomme cheese for dinner

Day 5 -  We entered Italy, and stayed at Hotel Restaurant Lavachey. It is a few steps away from a glacier river,  and surrounded by mountain peaks. We had the best dinner on the trail here!! Soup, Chicken breasts, and Black berry pies. The added bonus next morning was the sight of  Mont Blanc, which is ~ 14 km west to the lodge,  under the setting Moon

Mont Blanc under setting Moon

Day 6. - we were still in Italy, and stayed at Rufiogio Monte Bianco. Here Mont Blanc is called Monte Bianco. The lodge is right beneath Mt Blanc! 

Day 7 - We were back to France, stayed at Refuge des Mottets. It stands alone by Torrents des Galciers in a valley. It served most rudimentary food. But we got culture treats after dinner... French folk songs from an ancient device, many guests sung along.

Day 8 - last night on TMB. We stayed at Hotel La Gelinotte,  a beautiful garden hotel, nice view of the glaciated mountain peak - which I mistaken as Mont Blanc -  it is Aiguille de Bionnassay, which blocks the view of Mont Blanc from the valley

We had a formal nice 3 course dinner - with wine from our French teammates - it was our last super together for the whole TMB hiking team. I made a formal toast to everyone for their comradeship and to our tour guide Chole. 

Day 9 - We returned to Chamonix and stayed at Croix Blanche...the same hotel we stayed the day before our TMB. We stored our large luggage here. These hotel stays were not a part of the guided tour. 

Chamonix was cloudy the day before our TMB

Chamonix was sunny the day we left for home